Newsletter 11/08

November 2008

First, thanks to all of you, The Gate House has debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at #1. And thanks to me, too, for writing such a great book. The Gate House has also appeared at #1 on other national and regional bestseller lists, so this isn’t a fluke.

I’ve received thousands of emails through my website mailbox, and I wish I could respond to all of them, especially the snarky ones, but it’s not humanly possible, so, this Newsletter has to suffice.

For those who wrote me that they didn’t like The Gate House, sorry, but you were in a distinct minority. The main negative complaint was that the book went on too long. The most common praise was that it went too quickly. So, there you are.

Most of The Gate House reviews in newspapers and magazines were excellent, but one or two were lukewarm, and those reviewers are not getting invited to my annual Salute to Book Reviewers, which I host on a private yacht in the Caribbean every January. I hope they get the message. The most idiotic review I received was written by Charles Taylor in Newsday, which is my local newspaper. You need to read this review to appreciate what John Updike meant when he said, “Reviewers are like pigs at the pastry cart.” Mr. Taylor’s very weird review can be read by going to the Newsday website, click here.

A confession: I once met Charles Taylor at a fundraiser for Talentless Book Reviewers (he was the honoree), and when he got up to receive his award I ate his pork chop. So, maybe that explains the bad review.

I get a lot of questions in my website mailbox and most of them could be answered by perusing my website. You can also read my old Newsletters in the archives. The most frequently asked question is: Are you bringing back John Corey? Yes, in my next book which is a sequel to The Lion’s Game. This book is only four chapters long, but they are loooong chapters.

Recently I was blogging on Barnes & Noble Center Stage. Click here to view.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who came to my book signings in the tri-state New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut area. You were all terrific, and I hope you enjoyed the evening as much as I did.

I had a book signing at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, something I’ve never done before, and it was fun. This was a joint signing with my Grand Central Publishing colleague, David Baldacci, whose new book, Divine Justice, will also be a #1 New York Times bestseller. David was fun to be with, and the folks at Foxwoods were wonderful hosts, and the attendees were terrific, especially those who came directly from the cocktail lounge. It’s not every book signing where you can drink, gamble, and smoke. Don’t get me wrong — I love bookstores, but, well, there are no blackjack tables or bars in most bookstores. But maybe that’s just as well; I left a few hundred dollars with the house before my wife pulled me out of there.

In the spirit of giving thanks, it is forty years this month since I returned from Vietnam, and I count every day as a blessing and a gift. Someday I’ll write about my homecoming, but in the meantime please pray for our men and women stationed in combat zones around the world as the holiday season approaches.

I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, filled with family, friends, peace and love.

Best regards,
Nelson DeMille

Sincerely,